Real and False Endorsements .......... Parables 634

March 30, 1999

Ever wonder if Wayne Gretzky eats the cereal in the box with his picture on it? Do the models with the shiny locks actually shampoo their own hair with the products they hold up in commercials? Do any celebrities use the products they endorse?

We can assume at least one of them did not. Have you seen Fred Astair and a certain brand of vacuum cleaner? Was it around before he died? Even if it was, did you know he isn’t even using it in the commercial?

After seeing special effects in Forest Gump (such as him shaking hands with dead presidents), an enterprising American had an idea. He began asking living celebrities and the families of those who are gone for exclusive rights to use their images from the movies. He plans to feature these stars in television commercials and other advertising, both now and after they die. His idea is already changing how famous people designate their estates.

Part of the reasoning behind celebrity endorsements is that we tend to follow those we know or respect because they are an influence on our lives. If Bob Hope or Brad Pitt is able to entertain us, then we give them a special place in other areas. We even let them be our financial advisors; their commercial endorsements tell us when and where to spend our money.

We know endorsements are not necessarily the best way to evaluate products, but marketing agencies will tell you that the appeal made by a famous person usually overrules common sense. Whether or not the celebrities use them, people buy those products.

What would it be like if it worked that way for the Christian faith? Christians endorse a product, well, a Person. Whether the believer is famous or not, we boast of His love, wisdom and power. We tell everyone they need Him. Yet if we do not “use” this “product” we have no customers. They will not let us get away with a fake endorsement.

Who can blame them? If a Christian claims Christ is the most wonderful person and faith is the greatest need in every life, then proceeds to live without faith or obedience to Him, who can be convinced by what they say?

For example, we claim Christ is good to us. Do we complain about our lot in life? We claim Christ is powerful. Do we fold up or hide in the face of trouble, pressure or opposition? If we say everyone needs Him and needs to have faith in Him, do we give ourselves in prayer asking for His help? Do we need Him? Do we trust Him? Or do we live as if He does not matter?

Jesus addresses this kind of “endorsement” with bluntness. He says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

He goes on to define what it means to do the will of God. It is not necessarily prophesying in His name, driving out demons, or performing miracles. People who claim only their religious deeds will hear, “Depart from me. I never knew you.”

The will of God is plain: “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life.” However, after looking to the Son, after believing in Him and receiving eternal life, Christ is saying that eternal life will manifest itself. People who believe and have it, will act like it. The life of Christ is powerful. It overrules our resistance and gives us the ability to live with Christlike attitudes and actions.

Sometimes this does not happen immediately. However, genuine Christians cannot help it. We must increasingly demonstrate that we are users of the Product we endorse.